Direct contacts between the presidents of Ukraine and the United States have shortened the diplomatic chain and somewhat reduced the role of Ukraine’s ambassador in Washington. At the same time, the ambassador remains necessary for engagement with U.S. lawmakers, ministers and public figures.
Volodymyr Ohryzko, a diplomat and Ukraine’s former foreign minister from 2007 to 2009, said this in an interview with LIGA.net.
In his assessment, direct dialogue between the leaders of the two countries partly reduces the need for traditional diplomatic mediation at the presidential level.
At the same time, the ambassador’s role does not disappear, as his diplomatic functions are not limited to contacts between presidents. In particular, the ambassador works with other centres of influence in the United States — lawmakers, ministers and public circles.
